Main Entry: 1deadĚly
Pronunciation: ded-l
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): deadĚliĚer; -est1: likely to cause or capable of causing death <a deadly weapon>2 a: aiming to kill or destroy <a deadly enemy> b: very accurate : UNERRING <a deadly marksman>3: very great : EXTREME <a deadly bore> - deadĚliĚnessnounsynonymsDEADLY, MORTAL, FATAL, LETHAL mean causing or capable of causing death. DEADLY applies to known or likely causes of death <a deadly disease>. MORTAL suggests that death has occurred or will certainly occur <a mortal wound>. FATAL stresses the necessity of what has in fact resulted in death or destruction <the fatal consequence of their error>. LETHAL applies especially to something that is bound to cause death or exists for the destruction of life <lethal gas>.